Electrically heated steering wheel for vehicles and other purposes



Ce t. 29, 1935. 5. J. CLARIDGIE ELECTRIGALLY HEATED STEERING WHEEL FOR VEHICLES AND OTHER PURPO SES 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 1, 1.935

Zhmentor Oct. 29, 1935. s. J. CLARHIDGE 2,013,947 A ELECTRICALLY HEATED STEERING WHEEL FOR VEHICLES AND OTHER PURPOSES Filed March 1, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Bnnentor att orneg 0a. 29, 9 5. 5. J. cums: 2 18,947-

ELECTRICALLY HEATED STEERING WHEEL FOR VEHICLES AND OTHER PURPOSES Filed uar n 1, 1933 3 Sheets- Sheet s 3nngntor 1225 an J? M attorney Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES ELECTRICALLY HEATED STEERING FOR VEHICLES AND OTHER PURPOSES Samuel J. Ciaridge, Portland, ores. Application March 1, 1933, Serial No. 659,081

Claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a steering wheel for automobiles and the like, having heat radiating elements incorporated within the rim thereof, whereby the operator of the vehicle may enJoy the comfort ofa warm steering'wheel during periods of cold,

inclement weather.

'A still further object of my invention is to provide means incorporated with, my device whereby theamount of heat radiated therefrom may be adjusted and controlled at the will of the operator.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means for warming the rim of a steering wheel that will be economicalto manufacture, easy to inspect and'service', and free from mechanical operating annoyances.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means whereby my device may be rendered inoperative during those seasons wherein a warm steering wheel is not desirable.

with these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part ofthis specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, of one of my new and proved steering wheels.

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of my new and improved steering wheels partially in section and shown attached to the steering column of the motor vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This view is made to illustrate the switch connection that is secured to the steering column and that is adapted for contacting the hub of the steering wheel.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the contact switch in which the hand manipulative lever is shown removed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective fragmentary side view of the hand manipulative switch lever.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the steering column and of the hub of the steering wheel illustrating the contact switch' points being opened through the action of the hand manipulative lever.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional end view of the contact switch taken on line I'| of Fig. looking in the direction indicated,-

Fig. 7A is a fragmentary sectional view of one of my new and improved steering wheels showing: an alternative type of switching means.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of a part of the steering wheel showing one of my 5 new and improved warming elements disposed therein.

' Fig. 9 is a fragmentary-sectional side view of a part of the steering wheel showing one of my new and improved warming elements disposed 10 therein. This view is taken on line 8-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 10 is a sectional end viewof the warming element taken on line II-Hl of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 11 is an obverse plan view of the warmer disposed upon the steering wheel illustrating the mobile contact that is slidably and hand ma.- nipulatively disposed upon. the stationary con tact bar of the warmer.

Fig. 12 is an obverse plan view of the warmer disposed upon the steering wheel illustrating the warmer less the stationary bar.

Fig. 13 is an obverse plan view of the warmer disposed upon the steering wheel illustrating the stationary contact bar partially displaced.

Fig. 14 is a perspective end view of the core of the warmer shown removed from the assembly.

Fig. 15 is a perspective end view of one of the lower insulators that is adapted to the core illus- 3o trated in Fig. 14. This is the lower half only ofthe insulating core.

Fig. 16 is a sectional end view of the insulator taken on line I 6- of Fig. 15 looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 17 is an end view of the 'half core illustr'ated in Fig. 15. This view is taken on line lI-ll of Fig. 15 lookingin the direction indicated. 0 Fig. 18 is a perspective obverse plan and end view of the Jacket adapted to be disposed about the core assembly.

Fig. 19 is an obverse plan and end view of .a

contact bar closure adapted to lock the Jacket in spring.

- Fig. 23 is a plan view of a steering wheel illustrating more than two warming elements associated therewith.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of an alternative type ofrim structure.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout their several views.

My invention relates to warmers for steering wheels, comprising a plurality of metal rim sections here shown as two in number at I and 2, covered with an insulating jacket as a rubber jacket 5. A metal core 6 is disposed between the spaced side ends of the metal rim. Heads 1 and sections and spokes l3, l4, and I5. The rim sections and the spokes are made hollow in order that electric conductors may be carried therethrough. The rim has a hub l6 disposed central of its underside and an insulating sleeve." is disposed about the hub. A metallic electric contact ring I3 is disposed about the outer lower peripheral surface of the insulating sleeve. -I place an electric terminal ring I! about the outer surface of the steering column 20. Electric current is delivered to the ring I! from a source of electric energy not here shown,- as from a battery. through the electric conductor 2!. The ring i9 is insulated from the steering column through the use of an insulating ring 22 disposed between the ring I! and the outer surface of the steering column. A resilientcontactor 23 conducts electric current from the ring I! to the ring it. The contactor 23 is normally in engagement with the ring' IS. The same may be moved into and out of engagement through the use of the manually manipulative switch lever 24. Electric current is conducted from thering it through the use of electric eonductors 25 and 26 that lead from the ring it to the resistance heating elements 21 disposed within the corrugations 23 that form the outer peripheralsurface of the insulating cores 9 and I0. Suitable terminal screws 29 are secured to electric terminals 30 of conductors 25 and 26, conducting electricity. fromthe conductors through the terminals 30 and the terminal screws 29 to which heating elements 21 are connected. An eye is disposed in an end of each of the insulating cores I 0 and is adapted to receive the free end of the heating element thereabout disposed. said free end being thereupon looped back upon itself. A channel 3i as illustrated in Fig. 15 runs longitudinally of one side of the outer surface of one section of the insulated core. A radiating Jacket 32 of like diameter to that of the rim sections is made precisely to engage between the ends of the rim sections. at the point of the warmer and to engage and'abut both its ends with that of the adjacent ends of the rim sections. The radiating jacket has lips 33 and 24 formed from the edges thereof. A contact bar closure 35 havlnll engaging lips 36 and 31 is attachable to the lips 33 and 34 of the Jacket 32 and is held in place thereupon by frictional engagement therewith. An elongated slit 31 is disposed in the broad side of the contact bar locking closure 28 and when the assembly is completed, t e slit 3 is in registry alignment with the channel 3| disposed within the insulating core iii. A manually slidable switch 38 is placed within the slit 21. A contacting slipper or shoe 3! is disposed upon one end of the mobile switch member 38. Shoulders 5 40 and 4| are formed upon the outer end of the switch member 38 and a spring yoke 42 is attachable to switch 28 through elongated hole 43 through which the restricted end 44 of the switch member is made to pass. Spring yoke 42 is s0 10 fashioned as to ride upon and engage the outer surface of contact ring closure 35 and the yoke 42 is secured to the switch member by any suitable fastening' means as through the use of a button-headed screw 45. Through the action of )5 spring yoke 42, the contact slipper 39 is normally held out of engagement with the heat element 21 as illustrated in Fig. 10. when it is desired to warm the radiating portions of the rim of the wheel, the switch lever 24 is drawn into the posi- 20 tion as illustrated in Fig. 2 to conduct electric current to the bar I 8 and upon messing the spring yoke the shoe 39 is brought into contact with the resistance heating element wound about the insulated core. This contact is maintained 25 for so long as the spring yoke 42 is depressed. Upon release of the spring yoke, the electric circuit is opened and radiation ceases. In this way heat is available as and where required, and unnecessary drains of electricity, through inadver- 30 tentiy leaving the circuit closed, are eliminated. The amount of heat developed depends upon the location of the spring yoke and slipper relative to the length of the heating element. When the full length of the heating coil is in circuit, the flow of current is least, due to the utilization of the total resistance of the coil, and the heat emission is'therefore lowest. As the sliding shoe 39 is progressed toward the terminal 30. the amount of coil activated, and consequently the 40 resistance, is reduced. resulting in increased current flow and heat output. It is, of course, necessary to terminate the progression toward terminal 30 of shoe 38 at a point short of that at which the current flow would be excessive. Any 45 suitable automatic circuit interrupting means, or current limiting means, not here shown may be disposed in the conductor 2i to act as a safety device.

when it is desired to disassemble the radiat- 60 ing elements the fastening screw 48 is removed. Spring yoke 42 is removed. Contact bar closure 35 may then be removed from the radiating Jacket 22 by longitudinal displacement and the iacket itself may then be removed from posi- 66 tion, thereby exposing the entire insulating core and its electric connections for alteration and adjustment.

While I- have shown in Fig.1, a steering wheel having but two radiating sections. it is apparent 00 that more than two may be installed if required. I therefore have shown in Fig. 23 a steering wheel having more than two radiating sections disposed therein. In this view I have shown three'disposed equidistantlyabout the rim', but I do not wishtobelimitedtoanyspeciflcnumberastwo or more may be used.

A conventional switch 48 may be disposed upon the steering column in lieu of the switch heretofore described. Certain materials may be used to for the construction of the wheel rim which mightlend themselves to a modified form of rim structure as shown in'Fig. 24, wherein structure 48 is integral with the wheel rim.

while the form of'meehanism herein shown" and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. 1

What I claim is:

i. In a device of the class described, the combination of a steering wheel having a plurality of constricted sections disposed in the rim thereof, corrugated split insulating cores disposed about the constricted sections, resistance elements disposed about the corrugated split insulating cores, means for variably energizing the resistance elements, split Jackets disposed about the constricted sections and spaced apart from the corrugated insulating cores, lips terminating the longitudinal edges of the split jackets, and closures adapted to engage and secure the. split jackets.

2. In a device 01' the class describedfthe combination of a steering wheel comprising a plurality oi rim segments spaced apart; a-plurality oi arcuate metal cores, each having heads disposed uponits opposite ends, disposed between and secured to the rim segments; a pluralltyot split corrugated and channelled arcuate insulating cores disposed one about each oi the metal cores; a plurality of electric resistance heating elements disposed one about each of the insulating cores a plurality of split jackets disposed one about each of the metal cores and spaced apart from the corrugated insulating cores; converging lips terminating the longitudinal edges of each of the split Jackets: a plurality of contact bar closures adapted one to each of the split jackets to engage the lips thereof; and a plurality of electric switches adapted one to each 01' said bar closures, and adapted for limited longitudinal manipulation therealong and for slidably and intermittently contacting the heating element and for adlustably energizing the same.

3. Inadevice of the class described, the combination of a steering wheel comprising a plural ity oi rim segments spaced apart; a pluralityoi cores disposed between and "secured to the rim segments, a plurality of electric resistance heat- 5 ing elements disposed one about each of the cores; a plurality of jackets disposed one about each of the cores and slidably manipulative switching means adapted to each of the heating elements for adjustably energizing the same.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a steering wheel comprising a rim segment constituting the major are 01' a circle, a metal core having a head disposed upon each of its ends disposed between and secured to the ends of the rim section and completing the circle, a corrugated split insulating core adapted for disposition about the metal core, an electric resistance heating element adapted to be electricaily energized disposed about the insulating core, a split jacket disposed about the metal core and spaced apart from the insulating core. converging lips terminating the longitudinal edges of the split jacket, a contact bar closure adapted to the lips of the split jacket, and means for energizing the heating element, said means including a switch adapted to the contact bar closure and for limited longitudinal mobility therealong and for intermittently contacting the heating element,

5. In a device oi the class described, the combination of a steering wheel having a plurality of constricted sections disposed in the rim thereof. insul ating means disposed about the constrict ed sections, resistance elements disposed about the insulating means, means for adjustably'energizing the resistance elements, split jackets disposed about the constrictedsections; lips terminating the longitudinal edges of the split Jackets, and closures adapted to engage and secure 40 the split jackets.

- SAMUEL J. CLARIDGE. 

